title: Effects of exercise training on the severity and composition of atherosclerotic plaque in apoE-deficient mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of exercise on atherosclerotic plaque composition, the concentration of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the atherosclerotic plaque and the systemic circulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice (45 male) were randomized to the following groups (n=15 each): control male/female; sedentary male/female; exercise male/female. Mice were kept on a 16-week high-fat diet. Subsequently, the control groups were sacrificed, while the rest of the animals were placed on a normal diet for 6 more weeks. During the latter period, the exercise groups were trained daily on treadmill. At the end of the study, mice were euthanized, and blood samples as well as aortic root specimens were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to control and sedentary animals, exercise training reduced atherosclerotic plaques (-30%; p<0.01) and increased elastin and collagen content in both genders (p<0.05). Body weight or lipid profile did not change significantly. Decreased macrophages and MMP-9 as well as increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) levels were observed in the atherosclerotic plaques of the exercise-treated groups (p<0.05). Plasma concentrations of MMP-9 decreased, while plasma TIMP-1 levels increased in the exercise compared to control and sedentary groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise training had a favorable effect on the size and composition of the atherosclerotic plaque in apoE(-/-) mice, associated with suppressed MMP activity.
authors.affiliation: Center of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. nkado@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Nikolaos P E
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kadoglou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kostomitsopoulos
authors.forename: Alkistis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapelouzou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moustardas
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katsimpoulas
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giagini
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dede
authors.forename: Harisios
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boudoulas
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konstantinides
authors.forename: Panayotis E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Karayannacos
authors.forename: Christos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Liapis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9